Tag: Fans Against Criminalisation

This is a copy of the Second response from Patrick Harvie MSP. Sent to me and 0thers. As usual the SNP seem to think we will just go away. I’m sure we can help them change their mind.

I am writing to provide an update in relation to your concerns about the policing of football fans in Scotland. As I said in my previous email, I lodged a question with the Scottish Government, asking whether the report on the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Act could be brought forward in light of these concerns. My question to the Scottish Government has now received a response, which I have copied below. Continue reading “FAC – Important Response from Patrick Harvie MSP #tcnfacfiles”

ustice Committee of the Scottish Parliament publishes its Stage 1 report on the Repeal of the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communication (Scotland) 2012 Act

Following the largest public consultation that the Scottish Parliament has ever had on any issue, the Justice Committee began hearing oral evidence on 3rd October 2017. There followed several sessions which involvedlegal bodies, fans groups, the football authorities, academics, the police and civil rights and equalities bodies and which concluded on 12 December 2017.

The overwhelming message which was given to the Justice Committee was that the Act was unnecessary, illiberal, damaging to police-fan relations and potentially in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights.

In light of this, the Justice Committee has today recommended the Repeal Bill to the Parliament and the vote on the Stage 1 report will take place on 25th of September.

We call on all MSPs to recognise that this law is bad law, it is a failure and it needs to be repealed as a matter of urgency so that the injustice meted out to young football fans can stop and the damage which it has caused can begin to be repaired. This also leaves the way clear for a sensible and mature discussion to take place which addresses those social issues which the Act was alleged to be about but which have been advanced not one iota since 2011.

Having campaigned against this Act for close to seven years, we now look forward to the next stage in the process (amendments) and the eventual Stage 3 vote which will see this ‘stain on the reputation of the Scottish legal system’ finally removed.

New email campaign launched today

As we write the draft Stage 1 report from the Justice Committee of the Scottish Parliament is being prepared. This report which summarises the evidence provided in relation to the Repeal of the Offensive Behaviour and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012 will be presented to Parliament and voted on before 26 January 2018. That vote will complete Stage 1 of the legislative process. Stage 2 relates to any amendments and Stage 3 is the final vote on the Bill itself.

When I set up TCN in 2011 it was against the background of the so called ‘shame game’ and the SNP’s ‘Summit’. Little did I realise that football fans from every club in Scotland would be criminalised from the outcome of the SNP’s ‘summit’. I won’t rake over the coals of the ‘shame’ game, we all have eyes in our head and as such know what happened. Continue reading “Welcome to The Celtic Network FAC Files”